Apparatus for assembling roller chain elements

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for assembling roller chain elements composed of bushings each having a longitudinal seam and a guide opening formed in the seam, rollers inserted over the bushings and side links and plates joining the bushings together to form chain blocks, the apparatus having a horizontal assembly line with a plurality of deposit ramps to receive the individual chain elements, vertical pressing members engaging the chain elements, and grippers having chain receiving recesses for engaging and moving the bushings forward in a step-by-step movement. A special surface is disposed on the horizontal assembly line for engaging the bushings during the forward movement of the grippers so that the bushings will rotate within the gripper recesses. An arresting means is mounted in each gripper recess for engaging the bushing guide openings during the rotation of the bushings and locking them in place.

United States Patent Zwinge APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ROLLER CHAIN ELEMENTS Primary ExaminerRichard .l. Herbst Assistant Examiner-Gene P. Crosby Attorney, Agent, or Firmr-Allison C. Collard ABSTRACT An apparatus for assembling roller chain elements composed of bushings each having a longitudinal seam and a guide opening formed in the seam, rollers inserted over the bushings and side links and plates joining the bushings together to form chain blocks. the apparatus having a horizontal assembly line with a plurality of deposit ramps to receive the individual chain elements, vertical pressing members engaging the chain elements, and grippers having chain receiving recesses for engaging and moving the bushings forward in a step-by-step movement. A special surface is disposed on the horizontal assembly line for engaging the bushings during the forward movement of the grippers so that the bushings will rotate within the gripper recesses. An arresting means is mounted in each gripper recess for engaging the bushing guide openings during the rotation of the bushings and locking them in place.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PMENTED $866,410

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* PATENTEDFEBWQYB 3.868410 SHEET 3 BF 3 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ROLLER CHAIN ELEMENTS This invention relates to a device for assembling roller chain elements, such as those composed of tongues (flaps) and jackets each of which are provided with a longitudinal seam and a guide opening, and rollers which are formed into chain blocks. The individual parts which are assembled by means ofa pressing member or the like, move in a vertical direction with respect to a horizontal assembly line. The pressing member consists of a linear base plate and a plurality of deposit ramps for the individual parts which are arranged above the base plate, spaced apart with respect to each otherand in the direction of the assembly line, so that the step-wise movement of the individual parts from one assembly location to the subsequent one is achieved by means of grippers. The grippers are provided with corresponding recesses which execute with each operating step, the same forward, sideway, and return movement.

German Pat. No. 976,498 describes a device of the aforementioned type, which successfully had been used. However, it has been shown that this known device is in need of certain improvements, in particular, with respect to the alignment of the chain jackets. These chain jackets are made of sheet metal and therefore have a longitudinal seam. Thus, the longitudinal seam provides a very minor uneven annular face for the chain jackets since the seam looked at from the inside to the outside closes in the form ofa funnel. If this funnel-like expansion were to be exposed to the pulling side, the chain bolt could engage. Therefore, if a plurality of these longitudinal seam of a roller chain could be exposed to the chain pulling side, there is an incorrect addition, so that the standardized chain division is no longer guaranteed. Hence, the longitudinal seams of the chain jackets should move laterally with respect to the pulling side, or diametrically thereto.

This problem had been solved before, however in a very unsatisfactory way. For this purpose, catch hooks where inserted in the lower region where the jacket insert pins move into the jacket and wherein the jacket insert pins are mounted in drill like manner. While the catch hooks move downwardly, they engage an expanded opening at both sides of the jacket seam, i.e., a guide opening of the jacket, thus forcing the jacket into a spiral-like downward movement. In the end position of the jacket, insertion pins secure the desired positioning of the jacket seam. However, the mounting of the catch hooks is difficult because of the low measurements of the jacket insert pins. In particular the catch hooks are very sensitive to breakage, so that the entire device cannot effectively operate, because of its frequent breakdown.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device of the aforementioned type having an alignment means for the chain jackets which meets all the technical requirements without an increase in costs. In the invention, the recesses of the grippers for moving the jackets are such that during the gripper movement, the jackets are moved with friction along their associated engagement bars. An arresting element is mounted in each of the recesses of the grippers which is capable of engaging the guide opening of the jacket. In this way, the inventive device solves the aforementioned problems of the known device easily, and in a very simple manner by aligning the chain jackets in a rather uncomplicated and effective way. Due to the frictional contact of the jackets with the associated engagement bar, the jackets are moved in a turning or rolling movement during the lateral transport movement of the gripper thus forming the guide openings of the jackets in alignment with the arresting elements to engage the guide openings of the jackets and therefore secure the jackets from further rotation. The arresting elements are arranged in such a manner that the seams of the jacket of one block of chains are opposite each other in their final position. Therefore, the seams of the jackets are so arranged that they are about opposite to the chain pull direction.

The friction or adherence between the engagement bar and jackets in accordance with the invention, may be obtained either by a magnetic field in the range of the engagement bar or by making the engagement bar of a skid reducing material, such as plastic, rubber, or the like, or a layer of such materials.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the arresting elements which engage the guide openings of the jackets are balls which are subjected to spring pressure. These balls are inserted in a bore which connects to the gripper recesses.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for the purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

In the drawings wherein similar. reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the assembly line of the device along lines Il of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view along lines II-II of FIG. I and a plan view of the associated grip- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along lines Ill-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the gripper which moves the jackets, whereby the jackets are shown in crosssectional view along lines IVIV of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 shows a chain jacket in plan view.

In FIG. I, the assembly line of the device consists essentially of a stationary base plate 6 which extends linearly in the operating direction of the assembly line, and a plurality of linear deposit ramps 7 which are arranged vertically with respect to the base plate and also in the operating direction of the assembly line. The individual parts to be assembled are supplied from storage channels 8, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, and 1 l, and are assembled on base plate 6 in a step-by-step operation. The lower flaps 12 engage the base plate 6 directly. The jackets or bushings 13 are moved from double storage channel 9a and 9b; rollers 14 are removed from double storage channel 10a and 10b and the upper flaps 15 are moved from storage channel 11 onto deposit ramps 7, and then moved onto base plate 6. The feed of the individual parts as well as the partly assembled chain blocks which are mounted on base plate 6 and also on the deposit ramps 7 is actuated by a plurality of grippers 18 (FIG. 2) having corresponding recesses 17, whereby the grippers can be actuated in a two step operation. Grippers 18 enter the assembly line at the front end and grip the individual parts thus performing a laterial sliding movement. Thereafter, grippers 18 return from the assembly line to their initial position. During the return movement of the grippers into their initial position, all parts which are mounted on base plate 6, are fixed by centering pins 19 which move upwardly. The individual parts which are moved from deposit ramps 7 to the actual assembly stations are mounted on downwardly moveable catch pins 20 which move downwardly after a slide 21 is moved, so that these parts are then pressed onto the already mounted parts by a press member 22. After all elements move back into their initial position, i.e., the centering and catch pins, the press member and the slide, the next feed is carried out, so that in each case a completed chain block 23 leaves the device.

FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the deposit place for jackets 13 with associated grippers 18. Grippers 18 which move jackets 13 are provided with recesses 17 which are designed so that jackets 13 are guided along bar 91 in frictional engagement. The friction or adherence between bar 91 and jackets 13 may be obtained either by a magnetic field in the range of bar 91 or by making the bar partly or entirely of skid reducing material such as rubber plastic, or the like. Thus, during the sliding movement of gripper 18, jackets 13 carry out a rolling movement along the bar 91.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, jackets 13 are provided with a longitudinal seam 71 and a guide opening 72. The latter receive arresting elements 30, as can be seen from HO. 2 and in particular in FIG. 4. The function of the arresting elements will now be explained in detail. The rolling movement of jackets 13 have to be stopped at the moment when jacket seams 71 assume a position opposite to the pulling direction of the chain. This is achieved by means of arresting elements which in the shown embodiment consist of balls which are mounted in a bore 31 connecting the recesses 17 of grippers 18 and intermediate pressure springs 32. During the rolling movement of the jackets, balls 30 slide over the jacket surfaces until the corresponding jacket guide opening 72 is aligned with ball 30, so that the ball enters the guide opening 72 to a certain extent. At this point, the rolling movement of the jacket is blocked and the jacket is in its desired fixed position. The jackets maintain this position during the further step-bystep assembly of the chain blocks. In this way, it is guaranteed that the seams of the jackets will always assume a position of away from the chains pull direction.

Grippers 18 are connected to a transport carrier 24 and are individually adjustable after clamp screws 25 are loosened, in the range of longitudinal apertures 26 by means of adjustment screws 27, in order to guarantee a high degree of exactness in the operation of the device.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for assembling roller chain elements composed of bushings each having a longitudinal seam and a guide opening formed in the seam, rollers inserted over the bushings and side links and plates joining the bushings together to form chain blocks, the apparatus having a horizontal assembly line with a plurality of deposit ramps to receive the individual chain elements, vertical pressing members engaging the chain elements, grippers having chain receiving recesses for engaging and moving the bushings forward in a step-bystep movement, the improvement comprising:

frictional surface means disposed on the horizontal assembly line for engaging the bushings during the forward movement of the grippers so that the bushings rotate within the gripper recesses, and arresting means mounted in each gripper recess for engaging the bushing guide openings during the rotation of the bushings.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said frictional surface means comprises a magnetized surface engaging said bushings and wherein said bushings are steel.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said frictional surface means comprises a non-skid surface engaging said bushings.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said arresting means comprises a channel formed in each gripper recess, a pair of opposed balls disposed in the ends of said channel, and a spring disposed in said channel and urging said balls outward into said recess so that each of said balls engage the guide openings of said bushings to secure said bushings from rotation. 

1. In an apparatus for assembling roller chain elements composed of bushings each having a longitudinal seam and a guide opening formed in the seam, rollers inserted over the bushings and side links and plates joining the bushings together to form chain blocks, the apparatus having a horizontal assembly line with a plurality of deposit ramps to receive the individual chain elements, vertical pressing members engaging the chain elements, grippers having chain receiving recesses for engaging and moving the bushings Forward in a step-by-step movement, the improvement comprising: frictional surface means disposed on the horizontal assembly line for engaging the bushings during the forward movement of the grippers so that the bushings rotate within the gripper recesses, and arresting means mounted in each gripper recess for engaging the bushing guide openings during the rotation of the bushings.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said frictional surface means comprises a magnetized surface engaging said bushings and wherein said bushings are steel.
 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said frictional surface means comprises a non-skid surface engaging said bushings.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said arresting means comprises a channel formed in each gripper recess, a pair of opposed balls disposed in the ends of said channel, and a spring disposed in said channel and urging said balls outward into said recess so that each of said balls engage the guide openings of said bushings to secure said bushings from rotation. 